TEN sheriff courts and seven justice of the peace courts will close after Holyrood's Justice Committee backed changes to legislation.

Members narrowly voted against Labour proposals to reject two parliamentary orders bringing the closures into effect.

Sheriff courts in Dornoch, Duns, Kirkcudbright, Peebles, Rothesay, Cupar, Dingwall, Arbroath, Haddington and Stonehaven will be closed, with business transferred to nearby locations. Many of these courts also have co-located justice of the peace courts.

Meanwhile, justice of the peace courts in Annan, Irvine, Motherwell, Cumbernauld, Portree, Stornoway and Wick will also shut.

Opposition MSPs said the closures, which were put forward by the Scottish Court Service (SCS) and accepted by the Scottish Government, will mean witnesses and victims will have to travel further to see justice being done while remaining courts may struggle to cope with increased business.

Politicians and business leaders also fear local economies will be affected.

But Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill insisted the closures were justified as a cost-saving measure and as part of wider reform of the justice system.

He said: "We cannot deliver better access to justice by avoiding the need for change.

"It is right that we examine structures that have served us since the 19th century.

"We recognise that all change has its pros and cons, its advantages and its disadvantages. But on balance our considered view is that this the way forward."

At a meeting of the committee today, four SNP members and independent MSP John Finnie voted against Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald's motion to annul the orders while the remaining four Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat opposition MSPs backed it.

Mr Macdonald said: "Justice is not just another commodity to be provided only where there are enough customers to make it sustainable.

"It is surely a matter of principle to this committee that local communities the length and breadth of Scotland should have access to justice, and that those accused of serious offences should, where possible, be tried by a jury from their local area, and should certainly stand trial as close as possible to their local community."